Thoughts for the Day, November 6, 2025: It is only going to get worse. Day 37 and counting.

Day 37 and counting.

Congress and the Trump administration are in record territory. Unfortunately, it is a dubious record territory. The Republican controlled congress and the Trump administration can blame democrats all they want, but the public is not buying it.

The elections on Tuesday were not a message of support for the Republicans or Trump. The recently released ABC News/Washington Post poll showed 59% of Americans disagree with the job Trump is doing as president.

Public opinion is only going to get worse for Trump and the Republicans. Per the NY Times, flight reductions were announced as part of a Trump administration effort aimed at easing pressure on air traffic controllers and other frontline aviation personnel working without pay as the government shutdown — the longest in history — enters its second month.

The reductions, slated to take effect Friday, will probably increase flight delays and cancellations. The move is unprecedented and could affect cargo operations as well as commercial travelers. It also has the potential to scramble travel plans in the run-up to the busy Thanksgiving travel period, when record numbers of Americans are expected to be on the move.

Trump, Thune, and Johnson can try to deflect blame to the Democrats, but they lead the White House and Congress. There are no winners in a government shutdown and there are plenty of losers. The biggest losers are always the ones in power. Just like in sports when the team is not performing well, the head coach and/or general manager get fired by the owner.

A strong message was sent to Trump and the Republican Congress. “Do your fricking job and end the shutdown.” Congress continues to get my Onion of the Day

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At least someone is looking out for the underserved and those in need.

Per the Washington Post, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to release full funding for November’s food assistance benefits by Friday. It comes after the partial funding disbursed by the Agricultural Department earlier this week had yet to reach those who qualify for the benefits.

“The court was clear that the administration had to either make the full payment by this past Monday, or it must ‘expeditiously resolve the administrative and clerical burdens it described in its papers,’ but under no circumstances shall the partial payments be made later than Wednesday, November 5th, 2025,” Judge John J. McConnell Jr. said in his oral ruling Thursday. “The record is clear that the administration did neither.”

McConnell said USDA “cannot now cry that it cannot get timely payments to beneficiary for weeks or months because states are not prepared to make partial payments. USDA arbitrarily and capriciously created this problem.”

“More importantly, without SNAP funding for the month of November, 16 million children are immediately at risk of going hungry,” McConnell said. “This should never happen in America.” This is my Quote of the Day

Judge McConnell gets my Orchid of the Day

As expected, the Trump administration is appealing the decision rather than complying with it and taking care of those most in need. Lunacy!!!

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Gretchen, I haven’t forgotten about you.

Gretchen has been out of sight in my blog since Trump started his second term. I have not forgotten about her promise of transparency which she made while campaigning for her first term in 2018. Her promise passed a milestone recently and I don’t want it to go unnoticed.

Per the Detroit News, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is running out of time to keep a campaign promise. During her first gubernatorial run, she pledged to open the governor’s office to the state Freedom of Information Act.

Nov. 4 marked day 2,500 of the Whitmer administration. The governor has yet to keep her promise.

Here’s what Whitmer wrote in 2018: “If the legislature won’t act, I will use the governor’s authority under the Michigan State Constitution to extend FOIA to the Lieutenant Governor and Governor’s Offices.”

She promised to open her office, even if the Legislature failed to act. The Legislature has indeed failed to act. But so has she.

And now we are 2,500 days into her administration. There’s no sign that the governor plans to keep her pledge, and that’s too bad. Whitmer gets my second Onion of the Day

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Moral Compass and Integrity versus Policy

I want to thank my subscribers who provided me with feedback after broaching this subject in my blog on November 4.

After reflecting on the issue for a few more days, I have concluded that people have their own definition of moral compass and people have their own value they put on moral compass and policies. It is different for each person. There is no right or wrong answer.

I know that Trump has crossed the line for me on moral compass and he and those who endorse him will not never get my vote. End of discussion for me.

No blog next week

Leah and I will be taking a mini road trip to Charleston S.C next week. This is our third attempt to visit the historic city. Our two previous attempts were put on hold due to hurricanes. This year we scheduled the trip for November, when the hurricane season is over.

We are looking forward to the trip.

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Quote of the Day: “More importantly, without SNAP funding for the month of November,16 million children are immediately at risk of going hungry. This should never happen in America.” Judge McConnell in his ruling today on SNAP payments.

Orchid of the Day: Judge McConnell-see above

Onion of the Day: Congress until the shutdown is settled.

Second Onion of the Day: Governor Whitmer for reaching the dubious milestone of 2500 days in office without keeping a major campaign promise of opening the Governor’s office to transparency and FOIA requests. Being 49 of 50 states in the lack of transparency is not something she and the state legislators should be proud of.

Question of the Day: Will you cancel air travel over Thanksgiving because of the government shutdown?

Lyrics of the Day: Show me a smile (show me a smile)
Don’t be unhappy, can’t remember when I last saw you laughing
When this world makes you crazy and you’ve taken all you can bear
Just call me up because you know I’ll be there, and I see your true colors shining through (shine)

Lyrics of the Day for November 4, 2025. Woodstock by Crosby, Stills and Nash

Video of the Day: Disturbed - The Sound of Silence feat. Myles Kennedy [Live in Houston]

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